Chapter 30-I
"Akala ko ba dapat nasa business party ka kasama ang parents mo?" He's not who I thought he was, but he just appeared almost out of nowhere when it was too late. Pagkakita palang niya sa hawak kong beer ay inagaw niya agad yun sakin." If you don't want to be there why didn't you wait for me?"
"Something came up, Ralph..."
"Humabol ako----nandun pa sila Tita."
My eyes keep getting heavier. It's the exhaustion, the alcohol. I tucked my hair behind my ear, I can barely keep my head up. Pero papatingin ako sa likuran ng first love ko." For one moment, I thought you were Percival."
His face scrunched."Percival called me..."
Napangisi ako." Did you told him you broke your promise?"
"Nangalahati na yung party nung umalis ako, wala ka talagang madadatnan dun."I responded when he became unresponsive; it felt like a joke when he remembered the party after all. His clothes are different, he's wearing formal long sleeves, and he didn't even have his piercings on." Sinukuan ko yung party. It's suffocating there."
Nakapamulsa siya."Kaibigan mo?"
"This is Gregory, driver ko. Magka-baranggay lang kami." Inayos ko muna ang suot kong jacket bago ko siya sagutin." Hinahanap naman kita kanina pero mukhang ngayon mo lang nakita ang calls ko."
"Bakit ka nga umalis ng party?"
"Suffocating nga----that's all you need to know."
"Dahil? Anong nangyare?" Hahawakan sana niya ang kamy ko, pero huminto siya. Saka hinablot ang iniinom pang beer ni Gregory. Ang hilig naman nitong makialam." Kung magpapasundo ka sa kanya, bakit pa kayo mag-iinuman? Gabi na, delikado sa daan Sheena."
Nagmaktol ni Gregory. "Uyyyy akin na yan, Madam ohh."
"We just fought this afternoon. its normal that you wouldn't want to see me after that." Halos magsukatan na kami ng tingin dahil sinasalunggat ko lahat ng sinabi niya. Kung pano siya magalit ay aggression din ang balik ko." And you ignored my calls. O don't even understand why you're here just because my boyfriend ordered you."
His face crunched." Hindi lang dahil sa kanya,nag-alala din ako."
Napangisi ako." Worried about what happen to me, or what I would do?"
"Madam, pangalawang boyfriend mo ba to? Oh---Hala baka naman kabit?" Sabat ni Gregory habang niyuyog ako. Kahit si Ralph napatameme sa mga pinagsasabi niya." Ay basta sayo gusto mo mamasunod. Pero bakit ako hindi pwede? Ayaw mong maybahay mo ako, Madam?"
"...He's drunk, baka mapano pa kayo sa daan."
"...Si Gregory na ang bahala sakin."
"Maghahatinggabi na, anong oras pa kayo mawawalan ng tama?
"Gregory's sober, personality lang niya yan."
Napasipol si Gregory!" Madam pano si Perci------"
I pointed my fingers to Gregory's lips so Ralph could speak. My ever so loyal driver just shut up then and go back lying down the car's hood. Nagbukas ulit siya inumin, pero lata naman ng softdrinks." Magpalipas muna kayo dito, sinsabi ko sa inyo baka mapano kayo sa daa----"
I got up before he can finish his sentence." Gregory, uuwi na tayo,"
"Kulang pa to para malasing ako, at malapit na lang naman pauwi kaya chill ka lang Boss! Pero baka gusto mong gawin tong passenger princess si Maadam! " Even Gregory tried to assure him with his weird bullshits. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin kaya napa-peace sign siya." Joke lang po! Pero yung nga Boss, wala nang ibang kotse sa daan, kaya una na kami. Mas delikado nga na pinapainit mo pa ulo ni Madam eh!"
Humabol si Ralph." H-Hey, I'm not telling you to leave yet. Dito ka muna..."
I shook my head." No thanks, we're fine. He's sober."
Sumubok ulit siya."...Can't I just be the one to drive you home, Sheena?"
"I already said no thanks."
"Then tomorrow can I drive you to rehearsal?"
I can feel his conflict." May major class ka-----hapon ako pupunta."
"...I'd still try, minsan pala-absent din si Sir." Ralph slowly stepped back, finally just allowing me to do what I want. Pero bantay sarado siya sa pagpasok ko sa loob ng kotse. This time he's trying to joke around. "Also check if your driver would remain awake, at huwag kang sa smartphone mo lang nakatingin. Ikaw kasi pinayagan mo ata uminom-inom pa..."
"Ralph. Ingat ka sa pagmamaneho. Goodnight."
"Huh? Y-Yeah, you too, Shin. Goodnight..."
"Let's go, Gregory. Tama na ang side comment." I dissed Gregory before he could actually say anything. Napaaray na lang siyang habang binubuhay ang makina. I rolled up the car's window so I can finally not see Ralph's face." At wag kang kaskasero."
Gregory grinned, pasulyap-sulyap pa sa likod." Opo, Madam."
I sighed, the car starts running smoothly for the first time. Mga 15 minutes malamang nakauwi na kami kaya, inabot ko yung snacks pinamili namin kanina." Sa kalsada ang tigin, Gregory. Ang lapit na nga lang natin baka magkatotoo pa sinabi ni Ralph."
"Oo na nga po eh, Madam."
"Sure, sure. Wag na chismoso."
Napapikit ako habang minememorya ay ang mga sinabi niya. His kind voice is back again, he can just flip the switch between hating and loving me. But for tonight it's the best we shouldn't be by each others side.." Madam, wag kang mabibgla----alam mo kung ano ang alam ko?"
My eyes flick towards the car's rearmirror." I do---Kanina pa."
"Gago nun! Siya pala date mo ngayon. Lakas ng tama ah? Nag-aaway palang pala kayo!" Natatawang komento ni Gregory. Binigalan niya ang takbo ng kotse at sumulyap uli sa likuran namin. Napaayos ako ng up habang nagbubukas ng box ng street donuts." Sinusundan pa tayo. Ang praning. Gusto ka talagang safe na safe umuwi ha Madam!"
I took one bite of the donut, munching." Ganyan siya, indecisive."
Then I place a piece of donut right in front of Gregory. Nagmamaneho siya, agad niyang kinagatan lang yun at ipinasubo ang tira. Pero gusto niya agad magsalita kahit may laman pang donut ang bibig niya." So---Ano. Bukas? Susunduin kita at Ihahatid? O sabay ka dun sa boyfriend number 2 mo?"
"I feel like commuting tomorrow."
"Ang mas maganda---- huwag na lang pumasok!"